The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17
home, even when / take into eonsid-

ing his last visit that England is a
freer country than America. Oakley
Hall, who has lived here long time
now, is emphatic in his expression of
the opinion that England is pre-. emf
nently the country of personal
liberty.
In the conversation at dinner
played the part Of witness, and l
was submitted to rigid cross-exami-
nation as 10 the methods OF party-or
rather municipalities in America.
My friends thought me OF our ways
better than theirs, vice versa. There
was no prejudice, no insular feeling,
only desire to learn, and, if suita-
BILE to the different conditions, apply
any of our ways to their needs.
In one thing Parliament is far and
away ahead of the House, perhaps in
more than one thing, but in the re-
spect Of being a school of debate it is
the first body in the world. And this
is brought about by the excellent
rule that the members Of the Cabinet
must be sitting members of the legis-
lative body. More than this, they
must 90 to their constituents for in
dorsement again after they accept
office, and, having been returned and
taken their places in the government,
they must come into the House and
defend their policy on all matters of
moment. The result is that it is
constant fencing match; it is
daily encounter; attack and defense
sharpen the wits and encourage
skill in debate. This constant fric-
ton of brains cannot help but be
productive of good results. Another
point in it is land one which, Gu
riously enough, accounts for the fact
that the art Of interviewing by news
paper men is unknown in England),
that the Ministers must answer all
questions put them by members.
And | can assure you the opposition
put them through course of sprouts
that the checklist newspaper report
er America ever produced would not
dare to do. These questions and
answers being published in full, all
the papers and the public get the
benefit of them, and the interview
er's Office is gone. Meanwhile the
nation watch this game OF fence at
tentively, and when the Ministers
are inadequate to the defense of
their position, Parliament is dis
solved, and the question is at once
asked the people, whether they do or
do not approve the course Of the
government. 1t is a complete and
perfect government of the people by
the people. There is no waiting two
to four years for the constituents of
man or of a party to express their
disapprobation and turn him out of
office after the mischief has been
done.
Well, a truce to politics; only let
me add, my dinner was good, the
com pany better, and the moon shOne
brightly when | once more emerged
from the door under the clock in the
tower.
The American Exhibition grows
daily, both in the moral and material
sense. 1t is huge affair, and under
the guidance of Mr.. j. h. Whitley
and Mr.. T. G. Speed, now his able
lieutenant, the great engine that they
have built up little by little for the
past three years is working with &C
euracy, precision and marvellous eff
cheney. By the time that the State
of Nebraska arrives with the wild
West, and in part the exhibits. the
building will be completed and en-
tirely ready for their reception. 1t
is marvellous the rapidity with which
this vast structure and its sur
roundingJ have grown up on
what was five months ago a
most unpromising looking tract,
partially waste land and partially
cabbage gardens. Now the Ameri-
can flag flies 10 every direction, and
reminds those of us who were at the
Centennial of the palmy days of that
great festival. The goal OF all these
years of devoted self sacrificing labor
and vast expenditure is now in sight,
and you may assure your readers
that America will be proud of the
way both in which she is represented
and in which she has been received,
before they are thirty days older.
The weather is warm and spring
like, and already the lovely soft |
green, which only the humid atmos-
phere of England can produce, has
overspread the grand garden of
twelve acres. The primroses and
the crocuses are in bloom, and even
the heavens seem to smile en-
couraginRly on the completion of |
Columbia's enterprise.
The curiosity to see Buffalo Bill |
and his colleagues and possessions is |
so great in London that their remov-
al from the docks to the grounds will |
have to be carried out with the
greatest secrecy and in the dead of |
night. A high police official assured |
me that he was convinced that if |
they were to march through the city
by daylight that the crowds would be
as great and the suspension of bust
ness and traffic as complete as on the
day of the Lord Mayors Show.
The executive staff are now in full
possession of the Offices in the build
ings. These are very light, airy and
commodious, and are decorated in
severe but faultless taste. Rumors
we're started by some malicious per-
son that Buffalo Bill would not APP
pear at the Exhibition, etc., and |
believe reached America by cable.
The presence of Major j. M. Burke,
general manager of the Wild West,
on the ground and the publication by
all the leading daily papers of his
prompt and emphatic denial, set
these at rest Immediately,
Many anecdotes are told of the
German Emperor in connection with
his birthday. Here is one worth re-
peating. At the time of the Fursten-
tag at Frankfort, in 1863, King Will
lam was one day walking in the
neighborhood Of Baden Baden, ac-
companied by Bismarck and num-
Der of ladies' and gentlemen. Passing
n ovnsv hut one of the ladies said. |